Breech-loading fire-arm



(No Model.)

G. HUNTLEY.

BRBEOH LOADING FIRE ARM. No. 345,902. Patented July 20, 1886.

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

GIBBS HUNTLEY, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,902, dated July 20,1886.

Application filed May 10, 1886. Serial No. 201,661.

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GIBBS HUNTLEY, of South Bay City, in the county ofBay and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements inFire-Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in breech-loadingfire-arms; and it consists in the improved means for operating thebreech-block,and, in connection therewith, of the means for operatingthe extractor, all as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings which accompany this specification, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of my improved breech-loading fire-arm. Fig. 2 is a similarside elevation with the side of the breech left off to more fullydisclose the breech block, which latter is shown in its depressedposition. Fig. 3 isa corresponding view to Fig. 2, with the breech-blockin its raised position. Fig. 4 is a plan of the fore end detached. Fig.5 is a crosssection of the fore end. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of thebreechblock. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the breech.

The fore end, A, fits against the under side of the barrel, as usual,but slides on a guiderod, 13, by means of the bushings O, secured to thefore end and sliding on the guide-rod, which latter is fastened to theunder side of the gunbarrel. Stops P on the guide-rod pre vent the foreend from being pushed forwardly any farther than shown in Fig. 2.

In its retracted position (shown in Figs. 1 and 3) the forearm is lockedin place by the spring-latch D, which engages with its free end into anotch, a, cut into the guide-rod. E and E are metal tips seen red to thefore end.

F F are two sliding bars, fastened to the rear part of the fore end.They project rearwardly for a distance in line with the gun-barrels,then they turn off on an angle with said line, and finally turn backagain parallel to said line, thereby forming the inclined planes 1) band the straight planes 0 c on top and bottom of said sliding bars.

G is the forward end of the gun-stock, to which the barrel (or barrels)II is secured.

H is the breech-block. It moves vertically in a mortise between thecheek-plates Land is (No model.)

provided with mortises d, which form the inclined planes m,corresponding with the inclines b of the sliding bars, and the straightplanes a, corresponding with the planes 0 of said sliding bars, all soarranged that the forward motion of the fore end will, by reason of saidengagement, slide down the breech-block into the position shown in Fig.2, while the rearward motion of the fore end will slide it up again intothe position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thus opening and closing thebreech.

To reduce the friction, anti-friction rollers c are preferably placed onthe upper and lower sides of the mortises d in the breech-block.

The sliding bars F pass through slots f in the forward end, G, of thegunstock, and the standing breech J is suitably cut away to accommodatethe rear ends of such sliding bars when the breech is closed.

A suitable pin-hole, g, is provided in the breech block for the firingpin to pass through.

K is the ejector, of known construction and operation. It has aforwardlyprojecting arm,

71., which is connected at the opposite end to a little lever, 17, whichis pivotally secured to the under side of the gun-barrel, and a pin, 9',is secured to one of the sliding bars, to strike said lever when thefore end is pushed forwardly and operate it in the desired manner. Theslot k, in Fig. 7, permits the passage of the pin 3.

In practice, the left hand, in natur. lly taking hold of the gun at thefore end, depresses the latch with the thumb, and then with a push thefore end is moved toward the muzzle as far as it will go. This movementcarries with it the sliding bars, which, in moving through the mortisesin the breeclrblock, slide the latter down. thus opening the breech. Thebreech-block, it will be seen, has slid down the full distance beforethe slides F have been fully drawn forward, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus 5the breech-block is out of the way before the pin j strikes the lever zand projects the ejector. In loading, the ejector is pushed home withthe cartridge, and a pull with the left hand brings the fore end homeagain and slides [00 the breech-block up to its place.

I have not described any particular lock, as most any ordinary look nowin use may be used in connection with my improvement.

@ about one-fourth of an inch thick, and as the breech-block slides atright angles to the line of discharge it is impossible to blow it out.

In moving the breech-block by means of inclined slides or planes I getthe simplest kind of a movement, which combines great strength with apositive action. It will likewise be observed that the movement isextremely handy, whether it is used for single or double shotguns orrifles, theleft hand being always kept in its natural position on thegun, as well as the right.

As a displacement of the fore end of about two inches accomplishes thedesired result, it will be conceded that compared with the levermovement, where the right hand describes a circle of eight or teninches, my movement is much the faster in point of time.

I am aware that the verticall y-slidin g breechblock is not new ofitself. I am also aware of the Patent No. 255,894., and make no claim to2. In combination, a vertically sliding breech-block, a movable fore endwhich moves in line with the barrel, a sliding bar attached to the foreend and having an incline, Z), and a mortise, d, in the breecl1-block,having a corresponding incline, m, all arranged to operate as described.

3. In combination, the verticallysliding breech-block H, having mortisesd, forming inclines m, the movable fore ends, A, sliding in line withthe barrel, and the sliding bars F, attached to the fore end and havinginclines b, all arranged substantially as described.

4. In combination, the vertically sliding breech-block II, provided withmortises d, forming guide-planes m a, the movable fore end, A, slidingin line with the gun-barrel, the sliding bars F, attached to the foreend and forming guide-planes b c, the ejector K, havrel, and the pinj onone of said bars, all an ranged to operate substantially as described.

5. In combination, the fore end,A, the horizontally-sliding bars F,secured to said fore end, and forming guide-planes Z) a, thevertically-sliding breech-block II, having mortises d, forming theguide-planes m n, and the antifriction rollers e in said mortises, allarranged to operate substantially as described.

GIBBS HUNTLEY.

, Witnesses:

M. H. AVERY, W. E. BEARDsLEY,

mg arm h and lever t, pivoted to the gun-bar-

